Measuring the hydrogen content in materials is important both for research and for various applications in material and surface sciences, such as hydrogen embrittlement of steel, controlled thermonuclear reaction first wall studies, and changed material properties caused by dissolved hydrogen. Hydrogen is the most difficult atomic species to analyze by traditional methods, but nuclear physics methods are particularly suited for this purpose. President of the Uzbek SSR Academy of Sciences P.K. Khabibullaev and Professor B.G. Skorodumov discuss in this book the characteristics of these methods, such as lower detection limits, selectivity in respect to different isotopes, accuracy, depth resolution and maximum detection depth. Examples of applications that are dealt with include the determination of material humidity, the dating of objects, the study of hydrogen diffusion including non-stationary processes, and the investigation of changes in material properties like superconductivity, plasticity and electrical properties due to contamination by hydrogen.

"Despite America's costly entanglement in the Persian Gulf, we know surprisingly little about gulf politics. This important book helps fill this void. Unlike many studies that are collections of unrelated articles bound together by an introductory statement, this volume provides carefully integrated themes and rigorous analysis. Its authors are well-informed and their creative insights are found throughout the book." --James A. Bill, the College of William and Mary and author of "The Eagle and the Lion: The Tragedy of American-Iranian Relations"
"This outstanding collection of well-written and researched chapters provides indispensable background for the current complex and troubled situation in Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf. Among other questions, it provides new and vital information on the Iraqi Kurds and Shi'is, the truth about chemical weapons use in the first Gulf War, and the U.S. role in the region. Knowledge of the matters so well covered in this book could have prevented many U.S. governmental mistakes in the region and could today provide a basis for more informed and successful policies."--Nikki Keddie, UCLA

Iraq and Iran are the two most important states in the Gulf region, given their population size, military strength, and the potential threat they pose to other states in the region. This book enhances our understanding of the troubled relationship between Iran and Iraq, placing it in historical context, examining the rapid deterioration leading to the eight-year war that started in 1980 and the effects of that trauma, and exploring the ongoing issues that currently bedevil bilateral relations. The authors cover such central issues as how each side has sought to use opposition groups in the other state to weaken it, ethnic divisions, the role of outside states (especially the United States), and a fascinating account of how the war affected a generation of Iraqis and Iranians. The role of the U.S. in the region and how U.S. policy has affected the two states are also considered. This book provides a basis for understanding the background of a tumultuous relationship that is entering a new era.

This book is a follow-up volume to the editors' acclaimed The Persian Gulf at the Millennium: Essays in Politics, Economy, Security and Religion. The editors have assembled a number of leading experts on the Persian Gulf to reflect on factors affecting security there in the 21st century. Most contributors are from the region itself and for the first time share the results of ongoing research with an outside audience. The chapters profile the diverse society in the Gulf and the historical pattern of Gulf security before focusing on current security concerns between Iran and the Arab states. They explore the mutual perceptions of the peoples of the Gulf today and the role of the new generation in shaping its future.

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the Gulf has been the scene - and sometimes the source - of international political and economic turmoil. Blatant intervention on the part of the Western powers in the domestic affairs of the eight regional states was a familiar feature from World War II until the British withdrawal in 1971, when it assumed more subtle forms. In addition, the oil shocks of the 1970s, followed closely by the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis, triggered economic dislocations across the globe, as well as political upheaval and the disruption of a long-established security structure. In The Gulf at the Millennium , the most prominent Gulf specialists from both the Western world and the Gulf are brought together to look at this extraordinarily active and influential part of the world. The scholars identify and examine the issues that have the potential to affect future developments in the region, including the rapid demographic changes which are taking place, the relationship of the oil market to political stability and progress, the resurgence of Islam as a political force, the often heavy expenditures on defence, and new geostrategic realities after the end of the Cold War. A dynamic, crucial volume, The Gulf at the Millennium provides an unprecedented view beyond the media hype into what is perhaps the most volatile and controversial region of the world today.

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the Gulf has been the scene - and sometimes the source - of international political and economic turmoil. Blatant intervention on the part of the Western powers in the domestic affairs of the eight regional states was a familiar feature from World War II until the British withdrawal in 1971, when it assumed more subtle forms. In addition, the oil shocks of the 1970s, followed closely by the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis, triggered economic dislocations across the globe, as well as political upheaval and the disruption of a long-established security structure. In The Gulf at the Millennium, the most prominent Gulf specialists from both the Western world and the Gulf are brought together to look at this extraordinarily active and influential part of the world. The scholars identify and examine the issues that have the potential to affect future developments in the region, including the rapid demographic changes which are taking place, the relationship of the oil market to political stability and progress, the resurgence of Islam as a political force, the often heavy expenditures on defence, and new geostrategic realities after the end of the Cold War. A dynamic, crucial volume, The Gulf at the Millennium provides an unprecedented view beyond the media hype into what is perhaps the most volatile and controversial region of the world today.